The Empror's Trap-Chapter 81: Ch - End of Summer

Although the judgment was to execute him after autumn, Pluvia had no real intention of waiting until then to execute Yunis.

If she had truly issued and carried out an imperial decree to execute him after autumn, certain scholars would inevitably criticize her. While she wasn’t an emperor who sought glory or craved others’ praise, having scholars across the empire spread negative stories about her would not be good. It would affect her ability to govern going forward.

Therefore, she needed to separate Yunis’s death from her decision as much as possible.

So half a month later, under cover of night, Pluvia secretly ordered Kenji to accompany her to the courtyard where Yunis was imprisoned.

In the courtyard, lanterns were still lit. When the gate guards saw the emperor arrive, they were about to bow but Pluvia stopped them.

She walked directly into the Fifth Prince’s courtyard. Although it had been uninhabited for a long time, it was kept spotlessly clean. Since Yunis was confined here, besides writing to entertain himself, he spent his time maintaining the courtyard.

Inside the room, lanterns were still burning. A figure was hunched over the desk writing something when Pluvia knocked on the door.

The person inside paused, then seemed to understand: "Please come in."

Pluvia pushed open the door.

The room was just as familiar as before - the layout from when the Fifth Prince lived here hadn’t changed at all. The entire room was filled with poems written by the once-ambitious Fifth Prince. Ancient texts were stacked in rolls throughout the classical-styled room. Now, Yunis sat at his desk wearing his princely robes, writing something.

"Your Majesty."

Seeing her enter, Yunis stood and bowed.

"Mm." Pluvia nodded, then looked around at her brother’s courtyard.

This courtyard was full of memories for her. Back then, neither she nor Yunis were particularly favored. Whenever they got something good to eat, the two would have private meals in this small courtyard. It became the siblings’ secret base.

But now, it had also become a place of sorrow.

"Kenji, you..." Pluvia started to say something but hesitated.

But finally she steeled herself and said firmly: "Kenji, please step outside for a moment."

Kenji knew it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to witness what came next, so he decisively withdrew.

Seeing Kenji leave, Pluvia let out a sigh, then closed the door. She sat down at the table, then lifted her head to look at the ceiling.

"What business does Your Majesty have with this criminal today?"

Yunis inquired.

"Nothing much, just wanted to tell you," Pluvia didn’t look at him, speaking as if to herself, "Right now within the empire, the common people all deeply despise your rebellion."

"That’s normal, Your Majesty. What this criminal did truly violated propriety and law,"

He understood this clearly, but he had just wanted to take one final gamble. He simply lost the bet. If given the chance, even knowing the outcome, he would still make the same choice.

"However, though the world despises you, there will always be those who think I went too far… I fear that after the autumn execution, many will use this to criticize me. After all, in their eyes I’m someone who disregards family ties and your achievements."

"Your Majesty’s actions were completely justified."

At this point, what else could Yunis say? He could only smile bitterly and agree.

Pluvia nodded, then continued: "To be honest, I’m not afraid of the world’s criticism. Whatever I do, I can’t take it with me to my tomb. Once dead is dead, let future generations judge my merits and faults. But I don’t want these opinions affecting the current political situation."

When she said this, Yunis understood.

"Your Majesty..." his voice trembled slightly, but he finally steadied himself, "Your Majesty need not worry, this subject has a way to spare Your Majesty from concern."

A brief silence.

Pluvia stood up and walked over to Yunis, then reached out to gently stroke his head.

Ten years ago, this was something she often did. Since they had grown up, such gestures had never happened again.

"Thank you, brother."

She was the emperor, and emperors sometimes had to make heartless decisions. But in the end, she was still human, and still young at that.

No one wants to kill their once most beloved family member, or rather, even now her emotions made it difficult to accept having to personally decide his death. But reason told her this had to be done.

Pluvia took out a white silk ribbon from the small box she carried.

Looking at the ribbon, Yunis paused briefly, then accepted it.

"Your Majesty, do you need help?" Kenji’s voice came from outside.

"No need to trouble the Grand Marshal. Also, when I asked you to step aside, I hoped you wouldn’t hear my conversation with my brother, not just leave the room," Pluvia reminded him.

"It’s fine, Your Majesty should know that I keep secrets well."

This was Kenji’s reply. Pluvia could only smile bitterly, then look at her brother.

"Sister."

"Mm?"

Pluvia thought Yunis was going to say something, but he said nothing more. That sister seemed to be just a simple call. He climbed onto the chair, then threw the silk ribbon over the ceiling beam.

Having tied the knot, Yunis stood on the chair, looking down at Pluvia.

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They gazed at each other, time seeming to stand still.

Summer insects chirped outside, though their calls were growing hoarse. Summer was about to end, autumn approaching. The summer insects too were nearing their time of passing.

"Sister, I’m... afraid."

After a long while, a slightly trembling voice emerged.

Pluvia’s lips quivered slightly. She looked at her brother, then gently gripped his hand:

"I’m here."

She softly caressed those delicate hands. Though born to royalty, judging from the articles and writing produced by these hands, their owner had always yearned to save the countless rough hands of Camelot’s people.

But hands too delicate, without sufficient support, could never achieve such a thing.

Yunis kicked away the chair.

In an instant, with nothing supporting him, all of Yunis’s weight concentrated on the silk ribbon. His body instinctively struggled desperately, his legs kicking wildly, choking sounds coming from his throat.

At such times, a person’s desperate strength is terrifyingly powerful. Yunis’s face turned red as he unconsciously tried to pull his hand from Pluvia’s grip to grab the white silk around his neck, nearly toppling Pluvia.

Pluvia had never seen someone struggle like this, like a wild beast.

She had ordered many executions but had never been this close to someone struggling in death throes. It had nothing to do with reason anymore, purely instinctive reaction. Yunis’s agony continued. She was about to lose her grip on her brother.

At this moment, Kenji strode in.

He went straight to Yunis, grabbed the prince’s legs with both hands, and pulled down hard.

Accompanied by a soft crack came a brief spasm.

Seconds later, Yunis’s struggles ceased completely.

In late summer of Camelot year 558, Yunis of the Camelot Empire was arrested for treason. After half a month of confinement, he committed suicide by hanging himself out of fear of punishment.

This is how the imperial historians recorded it.